New GIS project maps East Carbon's utilities

On June 9, the East Carbon City Council met to review many of its on going projects that are nearing completion including the new walking paths, as well the city's geographic information system (GIS) project to map it's utility system.

The 15 year old utility system has been lacking an accurate picture of where everything is located, as well as what is in need of replacement. But thanks to Jones and DeMille engineering out of Price, this picture of the system has been established.

"The project shows accurate locations of fire hydrants, sewers and man holes," said Trent Brown from Jones and DeMille. Numerous problems with the current system were found including three abandoned fire hydrants and a few man holes that were underneath the street pavement.

Mayor Orlando La Fontaine was quick to approach the problem. "I want to know where those are at," he said during the meeting. Other problems that were reported were 28 man hole locations that were out of state code. State code requires man holes to be 500 feet apart in order for the system to be easily cleaned, and according to Jones and DeMille, some of East Carbon City's holes were up to 1000 feet apart.

Council member Dave Maggio expressed concern about possible renovations. "We spent 8.5 million on infrastructure and we have man holes this far apart? Has the law changed?" he ask during the meeting. And since the time of construction, according to Collin Fossett of Jones and DeMille, the law has changed and probably will change again. The council voted to seek funding to bring the system up to code.

Two golf carts that were approved during the previous council meeting are now in service around East Carbon, and are already saving money, according, to mayor La Fontaine, who called them a "great success." In terms of the previous meeting there were also some clarifications to be made about the city's maintenance department because La Fontaine, who was not present during that meeting, made it clear that the East Carbon City maintenance department's trucks are all in working condition, and that other maintenance issues on the walking paths have been budgeted for by the city council.

Congratulations was presented to Lisa Miller who was responsible for 143 new trees that were planted across East Carbon City recently. The trees which came from an Oregon nursery have been a great sense of pride for council members. "These aren't just sticks in the ground, these are full size trees," said Maggio during the meeting.

$3,000 was approved to help pave various roads and drive ways around East Carbon.

Nielson Construction will prove materials as $10 per tonne La Fontaine was excited about the deal. "It's going to give us so much," he said during the meeting.

Finally the council decided to go back before the county commission to seek funding for Community Days, because while the Carbon County Tax Advisory Board (CCTAB) has recommended that the $8,000 go to Community Daze, the county commission has yet to approve it. La Fontaine was determined to go before the commission during their next meeting. "We're not the other side of the county," said La Fontaine "We deserve a little break on this event."